http://www.niu.edu Northern Illinois University Events Event Registration System - Northern Illinois University 2026 Northern Illinois University Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:00:00 -0500 <b>Wednesday, June 17, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM </b><br /> Blackboard Ultra offers a suite of advanced tools designed to elevate the teaching and learning experience. This workshop goes beyond the basics to delve into the sophisticated features of Blackboard Ultra, empowering instructors to maximize their use of the platform. Participants will explore advanced topics, which may include innovative course design techniques, the integration of AI to enhance learning, and effective strategies for assessment and grading. This workshop will provide the knowledge and skills needed to harness Blackboard Ultra's capabilities. Advanced registration required. <a href="https://facdevprograms.niu.edu/registration/RegForm.aspx?ID=2997" target="_blank" ><b>Register Now!</b></a> https://facdevprograms.niu.edu/registration/RegForm.aspx?ID=2997 https://facdevprograms.niu.edu/registration/RegForm.aspx?ID=2997 Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:00:00 -0500 <b>Tuesday, June 23, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM </b><br /> Blackboard Ally is a powerful tool for providing your students with more accessible content. NIU is full of diverse students with unique learning abilities, and Ally allows students more choice in a format that works best for them. The best part is that this is done automatically. In this workshop, you will discover how Blackboard Ally generates alternative formats for students to download and gives instructors feedback on how to improve their courses accessibility. We will also discuss some other practical strategies for incorporating Universal Design for Learning principles in your course. Advance registration required. <a href="https://facdevprograms.niu.edu/registration/RegForm.aspx?ID=2998" target="_blank" ><b>Register Now!</b></a> https://facdevprograms.niu.edu/registration/RegForm.aspx?ID=2998 https://facdevprograms.niu.edu/registration/RegForm.aspx?ID=2998 Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:00:00 -0500 <b>Thursday, July 30, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM </b><br /> In the Blackboard Ultra course view, the Gradebook is a useful tool for tracking student grades and helping students understand their progress throughout the semester on individual assessments, but it can also efficiently calculate an overall grade on an ongoing basis, as well as a final grade. The overall grade is visible to students on the Grades page in the base navigation and provides students with a sense of their current performance. At the end of the semester, NIU faculty can then use the Grade Submission tool to publish grades from the Gradebook directly to MyNIU, saving even more time. In this online workshop, we will discuss how to calculate overall grades, including how to use the weighted total feature, share best practices, and answer questions about specific grading systems. Advance registration required. <a href="https://facdevprograms.niu.edu/registration/RegForm.aspx?ID=3006" target="_blank" ><b>Register Now!</b></a> https://facdevprograms.niu.edu/registration/RegForm.aspx?ID=3006 https://facdevprograms.niu.edu/registration/RegForm.aspx?ID=3006